Landings and Layovers Wheelchairs, Layovers, and a Surprise Fare Drop With Matt Tasker
From missed connections in Rome to surprise upgrades and baby sleep battles at 30,000 feet, this episode is a wild ride. Plus, our guest shares travel hacks that could shave serious money off your next big trip.
✈️ This Week on Landings and LayoversAfter a short hiatus, we're back with an episode that’s part travel therapy, part fare-hunter's dream, and 100% relatable if you’ve ever had a flight—or an entire trip—go sideways.
Highlights include:
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Marty’s robotic wheelchair fiasco in Rome (and the business class seats that got away)
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Matthew’s “just one more fight with the gate agents” journey to Boston, Philly, and back with a toddler
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How one wrong gate, a missing stroller, and a helpful gate agent turned stress into success
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Marty’s random encounter with The Points Guy himself (yes, really!)
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A killer fare to Southeast Asia—starting at $700 round trip
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Our guest Matthew Tasker’s pro tips on slashing train costs in London, navigating Asia like a local, and why high-speed rail might be your new favorite way to travel
Thanks to our sponsor Notiflyr.com, we’re spotlighting a stunner: LAX, NYC, BOS, SFO → Bangkok, Hanoi, KL, and more — $700–800 round trip on Korean Air. ✔️ Full service ✔️ Stop in Seoul ✔️ Free transit tour if you’ve got a long layover ✔️ Average savings: $300 If you're even thinking about Asia, jump on this one. [Add affiliate link]
🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Matthew TaskerTravel hacker. Videographer. 52 countries and counting. Matthew joins us from the South of France to share:
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How to actually cut your Heathrow-to-London train cost in half
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Why he ditched the idea of checked bags forever (and how to trick budget airlines with a convertible backpack)
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Why Japan still wins as his top destination, and how to get there cheaper than you think
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The secret to finding better fares: don't just change your dates, change your departure city
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Apps that make his travels smoother (and his daughter’s plane spotting even more fun) → Bonus: Flighty, Flightradar24, and the plug adapter we didn’t know we needed.
✔️ Convertible Backpack – Roller + backpack hybrid ✔️ Pass-through USB charger – One outlet, multiple devices ✔️ Flighty (iOS) – Real-time flight tracking meets trip planning ✔️ Flightradar24 – Find that plane overhead before your toddler asks
→ Find all these in our Packing Picks gear list [Insert real link]
💡 Tips & Takeaways🛤️ Hack your Heathrow commute Stop at Hatton Cross or Hayes & Harlington, tap out/in, and save a few pounds instantly.
🚆 Rail > Air (sometimes) If the train is cheaper, faster, and less stressful—ride it. Especially in France, Japan, and South Korea.
🌐 Be flexible Change not just your dates and destination, but your origin city to unlock cheaper fares.
✈️ Don’t underestimate Asia With increased competition from airlines like Way and Chinese carriers, you can now fly from Europe to Asia for less than $300 one-way.
💬 Be Part of the Journey-
Got a travel hack? Slide into our DMs @landingslayovers
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#TravelHacks #BudgetTravel #WheelchairFail #AsiaFlights #LandingsAndLayovers #FlightyApp #HighSpeedRail #NotiflyrDeal #ParentingOnPlanes #PointsGuySighting